AMSCO+Topic+5.10

Learning Objective: Explain the effects of government policy during Reconstruction on society from 1865 to 1877.

The end of the Civil War presented severe challenges for the United States, especially the South.
Economic Devastation of the South:
- Loss of one-third of livestock (horses, cattle, and hogs).
- Significant destruction of infrastructure (roads, bridges, and railroads).
- Food shortages affected health, especially among African Americans.
Freedpeople's Status:
- 4 million freed Black Americans emerged with no resources (money, land, or education).
- Juneteenth marks the day when the last enslaved people learned of their freedom.
- Some initial promises (like "40 acres and a mule") were largely rescinded.
Struggle for Independence:
- Freedmen and freedwomen sought economic independence and equal rights.
- Federal government displayed limited action due to prevailing beliefs in individual responsibility and state rights.

Lincoln's Approach:
- Believed Confederate states never left the Union; aimed for a lenient approach.
- Issued the Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction (1863):
  - Required a 10% loyalty oath from voters in Southern states to rejoin the Union.
  - States had to rewrite constitutions abolishing slavery.
- Wade-Davis Bill: Proposed in Congress requiring 50% loyalty oath but pocket-vetoed by Lincoln.
Freedmen's Bureau (1865):
- Established to provide assistance (food, shelter, medical care) for destitute individuals.
- Initially aimed to help resettle freedpeople, but faced challenges restoring land.
- Notable success in education, establishing nearly 3,000 schools.

Andrew Johnson succeeded Lincoln; his Southern Democratic background led to conflict with Congress.
Reconstruction Plan:
- Similar to Lincoln's but allowed pardons to many Confederate leaders.
- His vetoes of crucial legislation (including the Freedmen's Bureau and Civil Rights Bills) highlighted tensions with Congress.
Congressional Reconstruction:
- Post-1866, Congress took dominance with harsher policies for Southern Whites and protections for freedmen.
- Radicals aimed for civil rights and protection for African Americans amidst fears of a politically unified Democratic Party.

Thirteenth Amendment (1865):
- Abolished slavery in the United States.
Civil Rights Act of 1866:
- Made all African Americans U.S. citizens, countering the Dred Scott decision.
Fourteenth Amendment (1868):
- Established birthright citizenship, equal protection under the law, and due process obligations for states.
Fifteenth Amendment (1870):
- Prohibited voting rights restrictions based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
Civil Rights Act of 1875:
- Guaranteed equal accommodations in public places; poorly enforced.

Reconstruction Governments:
- Southern states were predominantly governed by Republicans, with policies enforced under military rule.
Rise of African Americans in Politics:
- Although African American representatives like Blanche K. Bruce and Hiram Revels emerged, this caused resentment among ex-Confederates.
Black Communities:
- Freedmen sought independence by establishing churches and schools; significant efforts for education ensued.

Postwar Northern Economy:
- Driven by industrialization; shift in focus as the South struggled.
Corruption During the Grant Administration:
- Political patronage and scandals (e.g., Crédit Mobilier, Whiskey Ring) affected governance and public trust.
Election of 1872:
- Reform movements emerging from corruption issues but Grant won re-election.

Revolutionary changes occurred as women took on traditional male roles during wartime.
After the war, demands for women's suffrage rose due to their contributions; the Wyoming Territory first granted full suffrage rights in 1869.

By 1877, federal support for Reconstruction waned, leading to conservative takeovers in Southern states and the emergence of discriminatory legislation that would undermine African American rights.